The New Adult Learning Institute (NALI)

Intentional Self Development is Transformative.

The NAL Institute offers transformative learning programs that nurture personal growth through creative, mindful, and embodied processes.

Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary practices, we integrate insights from the fields of Art, Science, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Education, Health, and Spiritual Well-being.

Through unique learning processes, our programs guide learners in transforming their thinking, emotions, and will, sparking enthusiasm and igniting a passion for self-discovery and continuous growth.

NALI is dedicated to promoting human flourishing through education, art, health, and social initiatives.


NALI “GROUNDED IN PRACTICE”

A New Waldorf Foundation Year

Flyer for "A New Waldorf Foundation Year" program by The New Adult Learning Institute, sponsored by Sunbridge Institute. Dates: August 18-23, Havenwood, Duncan, BC; July 27-August 1, Sunbridge Institute, NY; Virtual modules from Sept 2025-May 2026. Focus: Waldorf pedagogy, Anthroposophy. Program highlights: Generative principles, seven learning processes, hybrid format. Features a photo of gardening, a geometric model, and contact info.
Flyer for "Grounded in Practice: A New Waldorf Foundation Year" program by the New Adult Learning Institute. It emphasizes the application of Steiner’s works for teaching strategies. The program includes in-person and virtual modules, focusing on themes such as holistic learning, imagination activation, storytelling, artistic teaching, phenomenological approaches, direct experience, and inquiry-based planning. Tuition details and credit information are provided. Featuring educators Sarah Nelson and Rubeena Sandhu. Contact information and website link included.

Our Program

Our program focuses on Waldorf Education’s generative principles as it applies to any classroom.

In this world teachers require practical, holistic methods to support both their students’ well-being and learning. Recognizing the unique challenges teachers face, this program is designed to support participants, on this meaningful journey.

  • 6 Day In-Person Retreat

    Twice Monthly - Virtual Modules from September - May

    2 Locations for the Retreat Week!

  • RETREAT WEEK LOCATIONS 2025-2026

    1. Sunbridge Institute: Sunday, July 27th, 9am - Friday, August 1st, 12:30pm

    2. Duncan, BC: Monday, August 18th, 9am - Saturday, August 24th, 12:30pm

    3. We are happy to offer the retreat week at your school, or in your local area at a different time of year, upon your request.

    Retreat Week Curriculum:

    • Introduction to Anthroposophy as it relates to understanding human development (Morning Lecture)

    • Introduction to The Arts thru the Years (Painting, Drawing, Singing)

    • Intro. To Rawson’s Generative Principles (5 Vignettes)

    • Advisory Planning Time (towards your personal aims); with mentorship

    • Contemplative Practice / Inner life of the teacher: practices to support inner health

    • Intro to Child Development (Evening Lecture)

    • Practical & Developmental Movement Activities over the years

    • Eurythmy

    Generative Principles: 

    • Child Development, timing is everything

    • Learning is rhythmical

    • Learning processes are structured over time

    • Block teaching strengthens learning

    • Teacher Preparation/Economy of Teaching; how can we utilize somatic, emotional, contemplative practices to mitigate burnout?

    • Planning and Implementation (The What)


    VIRTUAL TWICE MONTHLY MODULES - Sept 2025 - May 2026

    Monthly Schedule: 

    • Week 1: 2-hour virtual session

    • Week 2: 2-hour independent exploration

    • Week 3 & 4: Repeat the cycle with a new topic

    September

    • Activating imagination: Storytelling (structure, create)

    • Teaching as an art

    • Imaginative thinking

    October

    • Phenomenological approach

    • Direct experience is the basis for good learning

    November

    • Supporting the development of the senses in your students

    • Nurturing the self-activity of your students

    December

    • Theory: Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy of Freedom & his Theory of Knowledge, why it matters

    • Sense of Coherence as a necessity for learning and being

    January

    • Classroom Behaviour Guidance

    • Developmental Strategies

    February

    • Diverse Learners

    • Differentiated Learning

    • Universal &  Essential Supports

    March

    • Waldorf School Governance a basis for collaborative educating

    • Connecting with Parents, reports, meetings, and collaboration

    April

    • The cultural life of the school and why it matters to your students and to you

    • Celebrating nature and ancient wisdom

    May

    • Communication / Conflict Resolution

    • Restorative Justice

    • Kim John Payne’s Integrative Education

  • 6 day In Person Retreat: $1300 US / 25% Full Time Canadian Resident Discount.

    Twice Monthly Virtual Modules: Sept - May: $1900 US / 25% Full Time Canadian Resident Discount.

    Important Enrolment Information

    Participants are required to enroll in both the in-person retreat and the virtual modules for full participation in the program. The only exception is for applicants attending the retreat at Sunbridge Institute. For Sunbridge applicants, you have the flexibility to choose from the following options:

    • Attend the in-person retreat as a standalone experience.

    • Enroll in the full program, including both the retreat and virtual modules.

    • Optionally, join the virtual modules after completing the in-person retreat.

    We offer these options to best suit your needs and schedule!


    Credit Hours & Transferring to Accredited Waldorf Teacher Training Institutes

    This program fulfills 100 hours of Foundation Study according to AWSNA guidelines for teacher preparation requirements. Credit transfer for foundation or supplementary hours requires approval by training institutes on a case by case basis. However, full credit hours are pre-approved by the following institutes:

Two people sitting at a wooden table with open books and a notebook, one reading and one writing, with an iced drink nearby.

The NAL Institute welcomes you to a journey of practical and transformational learning. Register Today!

Please fill the registration form before payment

Your Instructors

  • Smiling woman wearing flower leis in an outdoor setting.

    Sarah Nelson

    Sarah Nelson has been a Waldorf educator and advocate for over 27 years, serving as a class teacher, early childhood educator, pedagogical administrator, mentor, and leader within the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). She holds a Master’s in Education from Antioch New England, a Waldorf Teaching Certificate, and a Bachelor’s in Adolescent and Child Psychology from UMass. Sarah works with various Waldorf schools while splitting her time between British Columbia and Maui, HI.

  • Person wearing glasses and a black Arc'teryx jacket, smiling outdoors with a blurry green background.

    Rubeena Sandhu

    Rubeena Sandhu has been a Waldorf educator and principal for over 25 years. She has served on the Leadership Council of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) since 2018, and is currently the Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada. With a Masters of Education in School Counselling, a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and a Waldorf Teaching Certificate she supports students, teachers administrators and parents to learn, develop, connect and heal.

Arscura Living Art Program

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF COLOUR

Flyer for Arsucra's School of Living Art "The World of Colour" art program, August 4-8, at Havenwood. Includes details on program highlights, schedule, instructor, tuition, and venue. Features abstract color artwork and images of the venue and instructor. Contact info: NALI@haven-wood.ca, website link provided.

Explore the World of Colour Retreat

The Art for Life program is for anyone seeking creative expression in their lives. The focus is on the development of art skills and their application to growth and transformation.

$600 (5 days) @ Havenwood

During the colour week retreat, live into the world of colour through water colour painting and egg tempera while learning about the seven soul types as awakeners of consciousness. All levels of artistic experience are most welcome.

Familiarity or openness to contemplative practice is recommended.

Arscura Art as Life

BIOGRAPHY TRAINING PROGRAM

Poster for Arscura's Art as Life Biography Training Program by the New Adult Learning Institute. It includes details on the curriculum with modules focusing on life cycles and personal growth. The program is scheduled from August 9th to August 12th, with a fee of $400. Contact information and a website link are provided, along with images depicting a painting and a log cabin in a wooded setting.
Flyer for Arscura's 'Art as Life' Biography Training Program, detailing registration and tuition, overview of biographical coaching, location in Saltam, BC, and information about the facilitators and host.

Biography, Life as Art - Three year part-time program

Module One $400 (4 days) @ Havenwood

Full Program: $1000 per year

In biography studies, students learn through personal journeying. Life patterns, cycles, crisis points, and identifying one's purpose in life (destiny) are studied. In this program art is used as a vehicle for process, not as a discipline to be developed.

Although there is no time limit, all nine modules offered need to be completed to lead to the Diploma Life as Art - Biography Practitioner. The program can be entered at the beginning of each module. Nine sessions over three years:

  • Three summer intensives of one week each

  • Two On-line terms with monthly virtual sessions from fall through spring.

MODULE ONE: Explore Life Cycles, $400 for 4 days

An introduction to biography studies, through a unique process of self reflection, group work and studio exercies. We will create a final beautiful watercolour of YOUR life.

Familiarity or openness to contemplative practice or anthroposophy is recommended.

  • Biography - Life as Art -- Course Outline

    Year One

    • LIFE CYCLES
      The seven-year cycles as described by Rudolf Steiner. Introduction to

    • PLANETARY QUALITIES
      The seven planetary qualities in their relationship to life cycles

    • EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSSNESS. The journey of reviewing, letting go, and beginning again before, during & after life.

    Year Two

    • MALE AND FEMALE ANCIENTQUALITIES
      A deeper look at masculine and feminine qualities in everyone's life. Working towards an inner unity.

    • OVERCOMING POLARITY
      Qualities of form and dissolution in life patterns. Observing our own tendencies to polarize and learning to find balance.

    • TIME AS A PHENOMENON IN BIOGRAPHY
      Growing, developing and ripening are the result of four etheric forces. This theme and charting the biography of another are part of this term's work.

    Year Three

    • FAMOUS BIOGRAPHIES & TWELVE WORLD VIEWS
      Charting an historical celebrity for presentation. Awakening 12 spiritual capacities in life and learning to stand in the middle of life's dynamics with a balanced overview.

    • CRISIS IN BIOGRAPHY
      By revisiting past turning points we learn creative responses for the future and to meet challenging life situations.

    • PRACTICAL APPLICATION
      Facilitating a group and weekly tutorial. Self & peer assessment and presentation from practice. Helping each other to look toward future steps.


  • Each Year: if paid in advance $ 1,000 plus materials.

    Each Module: $400, if taken separately, plus materials.

    Credit: Arscura completion diploma. This program will run for one year before applying for accreditation by the International Trainers Forum for Biography Work (ITF).